Bauer Flak Air: Football inspired shoulder pads
Written: Mar 13 '04 (Updated Oct 05 '05)
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Pros: Probably the best pure shoulder protection ever made
Cons: Bulky, heavy, restrictive, no back or belly pads, overkill
The Bottom Line: These seem more inclined towards football than hockey. However, if you need maximum shoulder protection and don't mind sacrificing lower torso coverage . . .
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| puckmugger's Full Review: Bauer Flak Air Shoulder Pads |
Flak was originally a Cooper hockey brand. Cooper was one of the bigger companies in hockey until they were purchased by Bauer in the late eighties. Strangely, their baseball division was purchased by Bauer’s competitor, Itech. You will likely find this item branded in three different ways, Cooper Flak shoulder pads, Flak Shoulder Pads and Bauer Flak shoulder pads. They are all the same item with minor cosmetic differences.
About the Flak Air Pads
The Flak shoulder pads are perhaps the beefiest, most protective gear that was ever made for shoulder protection. They look like someone took them right off of a linebacker. The Flaks have carbon fiber reinforced shoulder caps. The most durable material in any newer model of shoulder pad is ABS plastic. These are built like a tank; carbon fiber is nearly indestructible.
Holding the huge shoulder protection in place is a nylon vest. I call it a vest for lack of a better term, but the coverage comes only to the bottom of the chest. In the back there is no coverage either. The pads are lined with Cool Max, a quick drying wicking material that does add a bit of comfort. They have a rather hefty strapping system that appears to be very solid. The metal clips and buckles are a nice change and will outlast the more commonly used Velcro fasteners on new gear.
The vest is very rigid and will offer substantial protection to the collarbone, chest and shoulder blades. It is also a little uncomfortable as the result of being so rigid.
My Experience in the Flaks
I got to try out a pair of these, which I did more for the intimidating appearance of having Incredible Hulk-like shoulders while on the ice, than any real thought of buying such a ridiculous level of protection.
Personally, I usually wear a very light set of pads, so I found myself a little restricted by the sheer size and weight of these monsters. The other thing that I found somewhat annoying is the fact that the Flaks are only what the claim to be – shoulder pads. I felt a little naked out there. Being a goalie I have lost my natural fear of the puck and sometimes have to remind myself when playing forward that standing in front of slap shots isn’t always a great idea. Fortunately I didn’t take any rubber to my exposed midsection or back. There is nothing covering the belly or back at all with these pads. There is however, no doubt whatsoever that your shoulders are protected.
The weight and massive size of the Flak made them unpleasant to play in. Five pounds of protection on my shoulders hampered my already mediocre shot. Further, the size of them made me feel like I couldn’t move my arms properly.
About Shoulder Pads Today
Most players opt for lightweight protection in the leagues that I play in. There is no checking . . . well no checking is allowed . . . and guys don’t have major worries about getting nailed into the boards and having their arm in a sling for a month. Some guys don’t even bother to wear shoulder pads (which I think is nuts, you never know when my 200 pounds, head down, skating too fast bulk might run you by mistake). The guys that do wear pads are looking for something comfortable and protective. The other thing that people – parents especially – are always concerned with is protection in the back and ribs. The Flak offers no protection in these areas at all.
The Flak is a left over relic from old time hockey, where the game was more about bruising hits, fistfights and beer than about finesse and scoring. Shoulder pads have changed with the times giving full coverage to the midsection and back while lowering the level of shoulder protection. Few people at any level will benefit from this type of shoulder protection.
Bottom Line
I have seen a few new pair of these still lingering about at highly reduced prices. They originally sold for well over $100 a pair. The demo pair that I tried out fetched a whopping $30 on ebay. If you do have a shoulder injury that you are worried about and aren’t concerned about the possibility of other injuries, this might not be a bad deal. They undoubtedly offer more shoulder protection than any pad on the market today. However, my recommendation would be to buy a pair of Jofa 9800 pads. They give more than adequate protection without sacrificing other areas.
© Scott Noble – Unauthorized use prohibited
A few of my other reviews that you might find helpful:
Fitting and Selecting Hockey Protective Gear
Bauer Vapor XX Skates
Bauer Vapor XX Stick
Recommended:
No
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